Empire Conquest
Chapter 187 - 183: Sound the Retreat

Chapter 187: Chapter 183: Sound the Retreat

In the sky, the "Wasp" that had just turned and flown away.

"Squadron Leader Tong!"

"Ah... What’s up?"

When the navigator in the rear seat greeted him, Tong Shaoling was squinting his eyes, dozing off.

"We just received a radio command from the flagship, ordering us to turn around and head back over the enemy fleet, and conduct a visual observation by circling them."

"What!?"

Startled, Tong Shaoling nearly hit his head on the cockpit canopy.

This also had to do with his unfamiliarity with the "Wasp"; he had previously flown a torpedo bomber.

His partner repeated the message and handed over the copied telegram.

Indeed, a command from the flagship directed reconnaissance aircraft No. 03, the "Wasp" piloted by Tong Shaoling, to return and reobserve the enemy fleet.

Wasn’t this superfluous?

Tong Shaoling felt frustrated, primarily because he had just fallen asleep and was woken up, but he dared not take the slightest neglect towards the orders from the flagship.

That was Bai Zhizhan, the Commander, not the usual Shen Pu, the squadron leader accustomed to jest.

Besides, it was he who insisted on piloting an aircraft to the Third Aviation Mixed Fleet, so what was there to complain about?

In the morning, when he received the order, Tong Shaoling could have stayed at Lotus Military Port because his "Flying Fish’s" liquefier was broken and hadn’t been repaired. However, he didn’t want to miss the upcoming battle and replaced the pilot of this "Wasp."

Although being able to take off and land a "Wasp" on an aircraft carrier and pilot several types of ship-borne aircraft were basic requirements for a squadron commander, Tong Shaoling wasn’t very familiar with the flight performance of the "Wasp" and hadn’t mastered the skill of dive bombing.

Unable to carry out bombing missions with the "Wasp," he could only perform reconnaissance.

Truth be told, minus one crew member, which would increase the burden on the pilot and navigator during the search, "Wasp" was actually more suitable for reconnaissance missions than "Flying Fish." A faster cruise speed, longer range, better high-altitude performance, and more agile flying characteristics all contributed to the efficiency of reconnaissance missions, as well as the probability of survival when intercepted by enemy fighters.

Although Tong Shaoling volunteered when Shen Pu was assigning tasks, he was already exhausted.

He had been busy fixing the engine of the "Flying Fish" all night without any sleep, and then early in the morning, he took off from Lotus Military Port in the "Wasp." After arriving on the "Imperial Capital," having just finished breakfast, he was assigned a mission and then took off from the aircraft carrier in the "Wasp."

It was only after discovering the Second Main Battle Corps and sending a telegram to turn back that Tong Shaoling relaxed a little.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been dozing off.

Now, he had to fly back.

Even without fearing interception from enemy planes, this round trip would waste at least half an hour.

Thinking about more than an hour’s flight back, Tong Shaoling felt a splitting headache.

If he had known earlier, he should have brought a pot of black coffee when they set out.

"Captain Tong, look quickly!"

"I see it, preparing to send a report."

"Received."

Tong Shaoling had already spotted it.

On the sea surface ahead, a "High Bear" class and a "Fusang" class were berthed side by side, with officers and sailors from the battleship transferring to the heavy cruiser.

On the other side of the battleship, the officers and sailors were lowering several lifeboats, and even some sailors were jumping directly into the sea.

The scene was a bit chaotic, but it was clear that the officers and sailors aboard the battleship were fleeing for their lives.

Preparing to abandon ship?

"There’s more ahead!"

While Tong Shaoling was paying attention to that "Fusang" class, the navigator reminded him again.

Up ahead, an "Yishi" class was already in a partially sunk state, likely the "Rixiang". The heavy cruiser that had gone to assist was accelerating away, seemingly not wishing to be encumbered by the sinking battleship. On the nearby sea, many officers and men had not been rescued.

Undoubtedly, the enemy was abandoning the four heavily damaged battleships.

A few thousand meters away, a destroyer was heading this way, and from the looks of it, it seemed intent on sending the "Rixiang" on its final journey with torpedoes.

Before completing the circuit, Tong Shaoling was certain of this discovery.

The other two battleships were likewise abandoned; the officers and men transferred to cruisers, and destroyers were arranged for cleanup.

While the navigator was sending the telegram, a tremendous explosion rocked the distant sea.

From its bearing, it was the "Yishi".

A destroyer had fired two torpedoes at this stubbornly resolute battleship, and the result was that one torpedo hit near the rear main gun’s ammunition depot, igniting the magazine. Judging by the ferocity of the explosion, it was also possible that the ammunition depot had been detonated with a timed bomb.

After the explosion, the "Yishi" quickly sank.

Were they really abandoning four battleships that could possibly have returned home just because reconnaissance aircraft spotted them?

This doubt wasn’t only in the mind of Tong Shaoling, but also Bai Zhizhan and others on board the "Imperial Capital".

Only after the reconnaissance aircraft re-sent its report, confirming the previous one that the second Main Battle Corps’ four battleships had scuttled themselves, did Bai Zhizhan let the Communication Advisor off the hook.

Apparently, a single reconnaissance aircraft had frightened the enemy out of their wits.

This was good.

Bai Zhizhan couldn’t help feeling both laughter and tears.

If it was a fear of being bombed that had prompted the order to scuttle, then that Takatoku fellow was too cowardly!

With such subordinates, even if Takano was indeed an unparalleled military genius, he could not win a battle!

And don’t forget, it wasn’t just Takatoku; there was another Saiyi Navy general held on the "Imperial Capital" – Major General Sawa of the Fifth Air Corps.

Thinking of these things, Bai Zhizhan couldn’t help but reflect deeply.

Perhaps, the problem wasn’t with the battle corps commanders, but with Takano, or even with the higher-ups of the Saiyi Imperial Kingdom.

"There are still four heavy cruisers..."

Zhou Yongtao had just begun to speak when Li Yunxiang gave him a glare, silencing him.

The primary mission, that is, the mission that had to be completed, was to sink the four battleships of the second Main Battle Corps. There’d been no requirement to completely annihilate the fourth Cruiser Corps.

Now that the four battleships had sunk themselves, the primary mission had essentially been completed.

Was there a need to launch an attack for the secondary mission?

Clearly, this was a question that needed to be considered seriously.

It was nearly four o’clock; even if the ship-borne aircraft took off immediately, they wouldn’t return until after dark, and then they’d have to take the risk of recovering them at night.

Moreover, the anti-aircraft firepower of the four "High Bear" class heavy cruisers was not weak.

To attack, or not to attack, that was a decision that had to be made by Bai Zhizhan alone; everyone else had to follow orders.

After staring at the sea chart and contemplating for a while, Bai Zhizhan finally took a long breath.

"Send a telegram to the ’Longxing’, we’ll return according to the established plan, via Watcher Strait to the Xu Sea, and request that fast battleships be sent to rendezvous for support," Bai Zhizhan paused for a moment, then continued, "If possible, I hope we can refuel and resupply ammunition tomorrow to more effectively carry out support for the ground forces’ landings at the North and South Sado Islands, especially in the direction of Nagiu Port."

"Is that all?" Li Mingbo asked intentionally.

"That’s all. Make sure to report our fuel situation, so the Domestic Fleet can make the necessary arrangements. Once the telegram has been sent, immediately reinstate radio silence," Bai Zhizhan ordered.

Li Mingbo nodded, gesturing for the Communication Advisor to come over.

Bai Zhizhan had given the order clearly and unmistakably; the Third Aviation Mixed Fleet was to turn back for home.

With this, the four-day-three-night "Flame Sea - East West Ocean Battle" officially came to an end.